Editor, I read the opinion article on Prop 8 and I have a few issues with it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but the facts that Jesse Syse is using to back up his opinion are incorrect. If courts are there to uphold the law as Jess claims then how come they can just change California law whenever they want? Bill Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) federally defining marriage between a man and a women. If the courts sole responsibility is to uphold the law as you said then shouldn’t they be upholding Federal Law? Jesse also say that courts are there to enforce the law. Jesse had that in all caps so I assume he’s pretty adamant about that. What law are they upholding? The Federal Law that says gay marriage is illegal or the law that has been passed twice now by California voters banning same sex marriage? Why was the Mormon Church singled out? Sure they paid for a majority of the “Yes on 8” ads but what is wrong with that? How is that different that the people who paid for the “No on 8” ads? Isn’t everyone entitled to their own beliefs and opinions? It’s not really fair to single out the Mormon Church for upholding their belief of “tradition” no matter what you think of it. That’s their belief and they were proclaiming it. The same right that they have to proclaim their beliefs is the same right that gives the “no on 8” supporters the freedom to proclaim their belief. That being said I think Prop 8 is basically discrimination. If you apply this to any other group of people it would not stand for a second but why is California above the law? Why can CA just have total disregard for Federal Law and laws passed by popular vote? Last time I checked voting and the “voice of the people” are the very foundation of democracy. What is the point of voting for future props if the losing party can just take it to court and have it overturned?
-Kevin Daly